On the Left Coast, we’ve raised the minimum wage in our cities. Seattle’s $15 an hour (spearheaded by Kshama Sawant and her supporters) just went into effect. Guess who’s refusing to comply with the law? The University of Washington.

Our economy and society depend on most people feeling the system is working for them. But a growing sense of powerlessness in all aspects of our lives—as workers, consumers, and voters—is convincing most people the system is working only for those at the top.

This episode of State of Wonder feels a bit rough around the edges—in a good way, like rugged-smelling aftershave or good-quality field-dressed jerky. OK, maybe it’s not quite so chewy as all that, but every bit as satisfying.

The first thing that happens after youth is something called reality. In reality, you cannot make any money as a painter, at least in the United States of America. Let’s talk about how to live in reality and be a painter.